Total Anarchy in Darfur

USA Today reports on the escalating violence in Darfur:

Black villagers are being forced from their homes as Janjaweed avenge an SLA raid on the town of Almallam. In the past six weeks, more than 5,000 people have arrived at Zam Zam, a camp close to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. An additional 1,900 have made their way to Abu Shouk on the other side of the town, an international aid worker said. The numbers were confirmed by an African Union monitor in the region. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the government's sensitivity about the situation in Darfur.

Jan Pronk, the United Nations special representative to Sudan, said in an interview in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, that the surge in violence appears to be linked to splits within the SLA, the main rebel group. Rival commanders are vying for influence ahead of peace talks with the government scheduled to resume in Nigeria on Nov. 21.

Pronk also said leaders of both the nomad and rebel forces appear to be struggling to keep control over their troops. "There are quite a number of attacks for which we hold them responsible, but they say it is not them," he said. "There are some military commanders that are taking their own decisions."

From September 2004 to August 2005, violence between the rebels and Janjaweed caused about 200 deaths a month. "I don't have the final figures for September," Pronk said, "but we have gone past that. It is a sort of anarchy." more...

posted by Sarai @ 4:32 PM